Gripper jaws for expansible mandrel strip coiling reel



' March 8, 1955 H 2,703,685

GRIIIPPER JAWS FOR EXPANSIBLE ANDREI.- STRIP COILING REEL Filed Kay 21, 1954 2 Shets-Sheet 1 F'IEL March 8, 1955 STEPHAN 2,703,685

GRIFPER JAWS FOR EXPANSIBLE MANDREL STRIP COILING REEL Filed lay 21, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIELCZI- United States Patent 0 GRIPPER JAWS FOR EXPANSIBLE MANDREL STRIP COILING REEL Louis F. Stephan, Homestead, Pm, 'assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 21, 1954, Serial No. 431,358

' 1 Claim. (Cl. 242-42 mandrel. When working with heavy gauge strip, it is necessary to add gripping means to the expansible mandrel for securing the leading end of the strip onto the reel and thus prevent sllppage of the inner wrap of the bundle of strip as it is being wound on the reel.

Up to the time of my invention the mechanism utilized for gripping the strip on the mandrel consisted of two hinged jaw segments in the periphery of the mandrel. The jaw segments were so arranged that when the mandrel .was in contracted position, 'an open slot, leading inwardly from the periphery of the mandrel, was presented across the width of the mandrel adapted to receive the leading end of the strip. When the mandrel was expanded, the jaw segments moved together to close the slot and securely grip the leading end of the strip to prevent slippage during initial build-up'of the coil on the mandrel. When the coil was completely formed and the mandrel was contracted, the jaw segments moved apart opening the slot and freeing the leading end of the strip thus permitting the coil to be readily stripped from the mandrel. Considerable ditficulty was experienced with this type of gripping-means due to the accumulation of foreign matter, such as minute particles of steel, dirt, grease, etc., in the slot between the hinged ends of the jaw segments. This accumulation of foreign matter, which was difiicult to remove effectively without dismantling the reel, interfered with the ready movement of the jaws and accelerated the efiects of wear on the jaws.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an expansible mandrel type coiler reel having novelly shaped jaw segments which insure positive gripping action and whose functioning is not readily subject to interference from accumulations of foreign matter therebetween.

This and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, inwhich: b

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an expansible mandrel type strip coiling reel showing the gripper jaw arrangement of my invention installed therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the gripper jaw portion of the reel of Figure 1 showing the mandrel in contracted position and the gripper jaws in open position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the mandrel as expanded and the jaws in closed gripping position; and

Figure 4 is a sectional .view taken on the line IV-IV .of Figure 3 showing the hinged connection of the jaws and their mode of attachment with the arbor of the mandre Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 designates the collapsible segments forming the arbor or main body of the expansible mandrel of a 2,454,984

2,703,685 Patented Mar. 8, 1955 "Ice strip coiling reel. Gripper jaws 4 and 6 are hinged together at 7 within segment 2a on common end pins 8 with a strip receiving slot 10 therebtween. The slot 10 extends inwardly from the outer periphery 12 of the mandrel toward the hinged connection 7. The two jaws 4 and 6 are attached to the central portion of the mandrel by means of spring loaded.bolts 14. The hinged connection of the jaws 4 and 6 and their attachment to the segment 20: by means of the spring loaded bolts 14 cause the jaws to move toward each other and close slot 10 to grip the leading end of a strip S when the mandrel is expanded andmove away from each other and open slot 10 when the mandrel is contracted.

All of the above features form no part of the present invention.

The jaws 4 and 6 are provided with opposed strip engaging surfaces 16 and 18, respectively, adjacent slot 10. Surface 161's provided with a pair of radially spaced tongues or projections 20 and 22 while surface 18 is provided with mating grooves or recesses 24 and 26 for accommodating projections 20 and 22, respectively, when the jaws 4 and 6 are moved together to substantially close the slot 10, as shown in Figure 3.

Projection 22 is larger than projection 20 and is provided with a recess 28 on its side toward the outer periphery 12 of the mandrel. Projection 22 functions to prevent the entry of foreign matter into the hinged connection 7. The recess 28 also functions as a stop which prevents sticking of the strip S in the slot 10.

In operation, the mandrel initially is in contracted position as shown in the Figure 2. In this position the I jaws 4 and 6 are open so that the end of the strip S may be inserted into the slot 10 with the leading edge thereof received in the recess 28. After the strip has been inserted in the slot 10, the mandrel is expanded which causes the jaws 4 and 6m move together forcing the strip to be securely clamped into the groove 24 by the projection 20 and also between the remainder of the strip engaging surfaces 16 and-18, as shown in Figure 3. After coiling of the strip is completed, the mandrel is contracted causing the jaws 4 and 6 to part, as shown in Figure 2, to thus permit ready stripping of the coil from the mandrel.

While one embodiment of myinvention has been shown and described, it-will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without de-.

parting from the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In an expansible reel mandrel for coiling st'np material, said mandrel having a pair of first and second gripper jaw segments in the periphery thereof, said jaws being hingedly mounted on common pm means in the mam body of said mandrel with a strip receiving slot therebetween extending transversely of said mandrel, said slot extending inwardly from the outer periphery of said mandrel toward the center thereof, means connecting said jaws with the main body of said mandrel whereby said jaws are moved toward each other to close said slot upon expansion of said mandrel and moved awayfrom each other to open said slot upon contraction of said mandrel, said jaws having opposed strip engag ng surfaces adjacent said slot the improvement therewith of a pair of radially spaced integral projections on the strip engaging surface of said first jaw extending into said sl said second jaw being provided with a pair of spa yes in its strip engaging surface for receiving said projections when said jaws are moved together, one of said projections being disposed at the inner end of said slot adjacent the hinged connection of said jaws, said last named projection having a recess in the side thereof toward the outer periphery of said mandrel.

1,905,192 Talbot Apr. 25, 1933 2,061,109 Sieger Nov. 17, 1936 2,211,472 Klein et al. Aug. 13, 1940 Bader Nov. 30, 194! 

